New 'Experience' awaits BellSouth consumers

It may not compete with Epcot Center, but BellSouth is hoping its new “experience” store will help consumers try out, get comfortable with, and buy new communications and entertainment services.

The BellSouth-Cingular Experience opened today in Atlanta and will give customers there a chance to try out online gaming, home networking, downloading of music, photos and videos and even such basics as emailing.

Also on hand at the store will be salespeople with whom consumers can consult in order new services such as DSL, Cingular Wireless service, home security service and DIRECTV direct broadcast satellite service.

"Our highly trained representatives will provide customers with a consultative approach to understanding how to bundle the communications and entertainment services that meet their needs," said Jan Funderburg, president, Consumer Services, for BellSouth.

Potential Cingular customers will be able to see and try out e-mail-capable data devices and phones with built-in cameras and MP3 players will be on display.

Customers will be able to try out new services and features in comfort. For example, the DIRECTV offering will be displayed in a living room setting with flat screen TVs.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage our customers,” said Funderburg, in a prepared statement. “The BellSouth Cingular Experience has been designed specifically to demonstrate and explain our services to customers, and to provide them with an interactive and informative shopping experience.”